Constantine: Distorted Illusions by Kami Garcia is exactly what you would expect from Garcia and the character of John Constantine. Her brilliant writing and his arrogant ‘tude fill each page with one (mis)adventure after another. He tries to get the girl, but she won’t be got. She has a secret, he has secrets. His new bandmates and he know they are above it all! After all, they can do magic, and damn the consequences. And consequences are plenty.
Isaac Goodhart brings it together with the perfect illustrations. They are traditional comic/graphic novel style. They are busy, detailed with goodies and extras. They are bold, bright, dark, shadowed, and lighted in the right places. There are punk images and graffiti, and New York is all its glory. Plus, the magicians you meet are fun to see as well. There are awesome clothing, homages to killer S&M clowns and a waif of a creature with some lovely horns (and those are the good guys). And of course, we cannot forget Mr. John “McLondon-Hotty” Constantine with his “I stole James Marsters look from Buffy the Vampire Slayer” look (without the obvious fangs).
I am assuming the book might be set in the 1980s, but it does very heavily have a “today” vibe. I think it might be a universal-no-time-just-place setting. I am going to assume most (ages 13 and up) will love ol’ John, and not want to smack that smug smirk off his teen-aged face (I’ve been informed some feel the same about adult John as well). Yet, he is a character you know what you are getting into with, there are no surprises except what is the next crazy thing that will happen and how will he get out of it. It is a cozy read, a one-shot deal for me, but I am glad that I took the time to read it as it was the escape from seriousness I needed. Even if John is a PINTA (Pain In The A$$).
“John Constantine created by Alan Moore, Steve Bissette, John Totleben, Jamie Delano and John Ridgway.”
